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Health & Fitness

True Love

Improving Iowa City's bicycling environment one check-out at a time.

The Iowa City Bike Library loves putting more people on bicycles. It’s their number one goal. In case you’ve been wondering, here’s how the magic happens.

-       The Bike Library is an all-volunteer run enterprise.

-       People donate bicycles, our highly skilled mechanics repair them, and then we rent them out to the community.

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-       Bikes we cannot repair are salvaged for parts and the rest is recycled.

-       Between $50 and $150 you can rent a bike for six months. Bring it back within six months and you get your deposit back given there are no major damages. After six months you forfeit your deposit and keep the bike. Sweet deal either way!

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For me, it was love at first sight. I truly believe that the Bike Library is one of our city’s greatest assets. Most of the trips we make are three miles or less, and it’s healthy, affordable, accessible transportation. Love to be a part of this community bike project? There’s lots of ways!

Volunteer. Stop by the Bike Library and pick up a volunteer application.

Donate old bikes. Drop them off anytime there’s someone around.

Get involved.

Monday: Ladies Shop Night – Gals, come wrench on bikes! Every other Monday 7-9pm.

Wednesday: Salvage Night – Entry point for volunteers. Every week 6-8pm.

Friday: Rent-a-Bench - $5/hr to use stands, tools, and books. Every week from 2-5. First Friday Commuter Breakfast! Starting-up again soon.

Saturday: Bicycle Checkout & Rent-a-Bench from 10-1.

I started volunteering at the Bike Library about one year ago. Last fall an Americorps position opened up so I applied. Since January I’ve had the pleasure of working as a full-time Americorps member at the Bike Library. I share a common passion with all the volunteers I work side-by-side with, am learning so much from some stellar, knowledgeable mechanics who have super high-standards, and have the opportunity to advocate for bicycle transportation issues via Think Bicycles.

Former Americorps BL volunteers, Cody Gieselman and Brady Parsons, both still live and breath bicycles in Iowa City. Cody and her partner Steve own , and have just moved into a brand new space- check it out! Brad is an academic advisor for the University, recently welcomed an adorable baby boy in the world, and still manages to serve as an indispensable volunteer at the Bike Library. When asked what he enjoyed most about his time as an Americorps volunteer, he replied, “I got to focus on one thing that is incredibly important to me: A Bicycle Friendly World.”  The two of them have left some pretty big shoes to fill. Here are a few tasks I’ll be working on in the coming year in order to sustain their, and many other dedicated volunteers, momentum. (What to help? Let me know!)

-       Organize Iowa City’s first Ciclovia.

-       Build a Bicycle Advocacy Committee of citizens and businesses.

-       Establish a bicyclist and motorist education campaign.

-       Be a resource for those who also want to build a more bike-friendly community.

-       Work with the Youth Off-Road Riders to get kids excited about biking for life.

-       Work to improve safe riding skills of bicyclists.

It all starts with… as my friend Greg always says, “Be Polite, Be Predictable, Be Patient.” This applies to both bicyclists and motorists. Ride on!

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